Tour of Britain - 11th to 18th September - Race Thread

[Anonymous]

Dim is living in anonymity as his team, Sky can not do a lead out for ****!

So youve seen the highlights of todays stage?

Didnt think so.

 

[Derrick]

Come on T.S.F. the lead out, if that what it was supposed to be, was a complete waste. if you think Porte could have attacked and not been covered by Henderson or Wiggins or Thomas you must have very little faith in the ability of Sky's riders.

 

[Derrick]

Just seen your post 101 re "so you've seen the highlights". What do you mean, there were no highlights.

 

[Anonymous]

Come on T.S.F. the lead out, if that what it was supposed to be, was a complete waste. if you think Porte could have attacked and not been covered by Henderson or Wiggins or Thomas you must have very little faith in the ability of Sky's riders.

I dont think it was a leadout, i think it was preventing someone explosive like porte giving it a go on that final climb when henderson wouldnt be able to react. They knew henderson would win the sprint comfortably without a leadout (he was by far the strongest sprinter there), but they had to protect him till it levelled off a bit.

I think calling what they did a leadout is what causes confusion. It wasnt a leadout by any stretch of the imagination, it was just protecting him on the climb.

Porte was showing all stage he had the edge, brad tried to pull him back on the third climb and couldnt even get on his wheel.

 

[Anonymous]

Just seen your post 101 re "so you've seen the highlights". What do you mean, there were no highlights.

daily at 7pm uk time on itv4, repeated the next day. Closing stages usually youtubed by about midnight uk

the point i was making was more that acf just likes taking the mick, even when he hasnt even seen the race.

 

[Derrick]

I fully understand your dig at Aus. TSF but my "there were no highlights still stands.

 

[stefrees]

I fully understand your dig at Aus. TSF but my "there were no highlights still stands.

What are you on about? There were highlights on itv4. If you are saying there were no highlights because a sky rider won, then don't post in this thread as your comments aren't needed. Some people do have an interest in this race

 

[Mambo95]

The Sky lead-out was awesome, Brad pulling off with 1.3km to go, 2 km after Geraint was dropped leaving Henderson alone in the lead group and removing 2 chances of overall victory was sublime.

They haven't removed two chances of overall victory. Wiggins has barely raced since the Tour and Thomas has dropped out of the World's because he's too knackered. Anything they can do, Porte and Albasini, at least, are in better form to do.

On the other hand, Sky managed to win the stage, get the leader's jersey (by 14s), and reduce the GC field to 13 riders, of which only two can challenge Henderson in sprints (which is how this race will mostly be won).

They really couldn't have had a better day. But still some want to say how terrible they were.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

What are you on about? There were highlights on itv4. If you are saying there were no highlights because a sky rider won, then don't post in this thread as your comments aren't needed. Some people do have an interest in this race

I think they're being metaphorical, saying there were no highlights since not a lot happened. And to be fair, once I saw the composition of the break I said that I thought that it would go the distance, and Henderson would beat Haussler in the sprint. I didn't expect Wiggins and Thomas to lose time, nor did I expect the gap to grow to 10 minutes at the finish, however.

At least it wasn't Columbia leading Greipel out for his eight millionth .1 win of the year though.

 

[stefrees]

I think they're being metaphorical, saying there were no highlights since not a lot happened. And to be fair, once I saw the composition of the break I said that I thought that it would go the distance, and Henderson would beat Haussler in the sprint. I didn't expect Wiggins and Thomas to lose time, nor did I expect the gap to grow to 10 minutes at the finish, however.

At least it wasn't Columbia leading Greipel out for his eight millionth .1 win of the year though.

I just think sky were desperate for the win on home turf, they've done that now a bit of pressure is off. Constitution hill could be good fun if it rains tomorrow

 

[Anonymous]

I think they're being metaphorical, saying there were no highlights since not a lot happened. And to be fair, once I saw the composition of the break I said that I thought that it would go the distance, and Henderson would beat Haussler in the sprint. I didn't expect Wiggins and Thomas to lose time, nor did I expect the gap to grow to 10 minutes at the finish, however.

At least it wasn't Columbia leading Greipel out for his eight millionth .1 win of the year though.

so it had a pretty good finish, and hoogerland and porte stretching their legs was a million times better than seeing four unknowns cross the sprint points in formation. just a shame hoogerland and porte didnt go for it at some point

 

[Anonymous]

Phil Liggett on twitter "Poor show by SKY after the ToB. Hnderson is not like that and they need publicity not bad PR"

anyone know what hes on about? (not that i pay much attention to tweedledum, he deserves a round of applause for saying something without lance in the sentance to be honest)

 

[Ferminal]

You don't have highlights yet dim?

 

[Anonymous]

oh apparently hes moaning the henderson didnt attend the press conference.

You don't have highlights yet dim?

yup, up now.. had to nick them of wcc2 cos my computer decided to have codec issues

 

[Ferminal]

Thanks...

I don't think Porte would've got away even if Sky did less work, everyone else in the bunch seemed quite alert and would've known it was coming. He ended up being their 3rd man in the train

 

[RedheadDane]

Hey, about Porte.

Why was he given that jersey after the first stage? What is it? Not a Saxo Bank jersey that's for sure.

 

[Ferminal]

Hey, about Porte.


Why was he given that jersey after the first stage? What is it? Not a Saxo Bank jersey that's for sure.

Sprint Leader.

 

[Jamsque]

Well, Sky have put all their GC eggs in the Hendo basket with their tactics in the finale yesterday. I assumed they'd at least try to keep G in the group in case there is a selection at some later stage that Hendo can't make, but I guess their spreadsheets and powerpoint presentations have told them that a stage win is enough to keep marketing happy.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I just think sky were desperate for the win on home turf, they've done that now a bit of pressure is off. Constitution hill could be good fun if it rains tomorrow

They would of preferred overall hnours. Going to watch the highlights now Dim, just for you!

EDIT:Weird stage!!!

 

[salixcycling]

Weird stage!!!

Indeed. Never expected the field to have narrowed this much this early.

Glad you watched it though - informed sniping is much preferred

Regarding the protection for Hendo on the climb, even if it makes sense because Wiggins/Thomas don't have the condition to challenge for the GC, it's a tough sell for everyone wanting a british winner (ie, the british public and the advertisers). I would have preferred an attempt by them to stay in contention.

 

[Andy99]

Vacansoleil are well up for it. Should be interesting with their three-pronged attack;

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-target-overall-success-at-the-tour-of-britain

 

[stefrees]

Raining in Swansea apparently. Constitution hill will be carnage

 

[Ferminal]

Stage 3: The feared Monte Constitution

Twitter is reporting that a group of nine has a 4'25" lead at 77km gone (more or less half way).

As far as I can tell, the nine riders are:

Cameron Meyer (GRM), Pim Lighart (VAC), Simon Richardson (SGS), Mark McNally (SKT), Elia Favilli (ISD), Evan Oliphant (EDR), Ian Bibby (MPY), Stijn Neirynck (TSV) and Albert Timmer (SKS).

What is this Black Mountain like?

 

[sublimit]

Twitter is reporting that a group of nine has a 4'25" lead at 77km gone (more or less half way).

As far as I can tell, the nine riders are:

Cameron Meyer (GRM), Pim Lighart (VAC), Simon Richardson (SGS), Mark McNally (SKT), Elia Favilli (ISD), Evan Oliphant (EDR), Ian Bibby (MPY), Stijn Neirynck (TSV) and Albert Timmer (SKS).

What is this Black Mountain like?

This is SAS training territory, I'd imagine its quite tough in the cold and wet.

A chance for Richardson to show what he can do because he looked OK at the nationals on the climbs.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Stage 3: The feared Monte Constitution

What is this Black Mountain like?

I think it's roughly 5km of climbing at 6% average. There are sections of greater than 10% most notably on the hairpins. Lovely road up there.

Perfect secnario for SKy would be for this break to stick to cobble up the bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint points and the finish. That way they won't have to work too hard and the onus will be on the others to attack. Can't see Henderson being in yellow after tonight. Hausler, Porte or Hoogerland will be leading. However, if they manage get him over the line less than 30 seconds down he should win the overall with bonus seconds in sprints later in the race.